We do make over $90k and don't have hired help. We ARE the help;) It takes dh a good four hours each week to take care of our property in the spring/summer. He does the snowplowing of the driveway in the winter and he also makes a pretty good "pool boy":) I do all the inside stuff, cleaning, cooking, laundry, homeschooling etc. If I had hired help, it would be a cleaning lady. I'd love to take the kids out for the day and come home to a sparkling clean home. Oh, 18yo dd does clean the kids' bathroom but that's about it.

Congratulations to all of you! What a wonderful accomplishment!

It's only been in recent years that we had any money left over to discuss! For most of our marriage every penny was counted for and then some. Now that we have a little more breathing room (praise the Lord!) we talk about what we'd like to do with it, home stuff mostly. Neither of us would spend over $50 of unbudgeted money without discussing it first. I do all the accounting but I keep him posted on where we are and what's coming up, etc. We've never had any disagreements about where our money goes, some stressful times though when there wasn't "enough".

So glad we're up and running! Couldn't read the boards with breakfast, SO glad to have them up for lunch;)

:iagree: Some people DO just like to complain;) I have a very good friend who has struggled with her son (who will be a senior this year) for years with his different issues. He barely passed last year, is taking a summer course on the computer and that has not been going well. To homeschool him, to me, would be the perfect option. She could gear his senior year toward HIS needs and not have to jump through the hoops to graduate from Christian school. If I would mention this to her, I know her response would be that she could never do it, how horrible it would be, etc. Yet, all I've heard for the past 4 years is how horrible it is this way. So, I just continue to listen, to pray and to love her. That's all I can do.

Oh, I'm so sorry. How awful! Prayers for a quick solution and retribution!

My first cup of tea in the morning Seeing "our" deer in the back yard The library bag full of new books A new magazine in the mail The 9yos comment at dinner about "hating insultation" (thought his brother's comments were insulting to him;)

Have a great first day! I'm thinking that I won't even get on the computer until lunch or we may never get started!

I haven't read all of the replies yet but I would be thanking the good Lord that I did NOT enroll my son in that person's school. Her statement is nothing short of ridiculous! I really don't think that you have anything to worry about. Carry on, mom;)

Praying for those of you starting this week! Exciting times:) We don't start until the 23rd. Still in the organizing stage, the schoolroom DID get painted this weekend, yippee!

I'm so glad that it turned out well for you. Rain and all:)

We are sort of the odd ones out too. The kids sit with us during the service (instead of "jr" church). We've opted out of the Wednesday night program for kids. My kids don't question it, it's just the way we roll;)

Wow, 8 years, really!?! But not consecutive, so does that count? :) I homeschooled one child for third and fourth grade and then he was in Christian school for the next four years. I homeschooled him again for 8th grade along with his sister for third. I was pregnant with twins so back to CS they went. I have homeschooled the twins all the way (and their sister again for 11th grade) now going into our fifth year with MFW.

Here! :)

Yes, this is what I was told by the rep at convention and it's what I intend to do with my 9yo twins. Now, I just have to bite the bullet and order it!

I budget $250 a month for clothing for our family of five. We never use that much money monthly so I have combined household type things along with it. Like sheets, towels, paint, decor type stuff. Homeschooling comes out of the Misc. category for now. Except for convention when I usually buy our curriculum and I just set aside a bigger chunk of money from a bonus of dh's or something.

We have a combined playroom/schoolroom. We have dedicated one of the upstairs bedrooms for it. My boys are 9 now and really only play with Lego's most of the time so it's not too distracting for them.

We have used MFW's K, 1st, ADV, ECC and starting CTG in the fall. Obviously, we love MFW:) The K TM is a different animal from the other years. It may take some getting used to but not overly so, for me. We have used Saxon Math all the way through so no comment there. I was very nervous about teaching my boys to read but found it very easy with MFW's 1st grade curriculum. YMMV, of course, but we've had a wonderful experience so far.

August 23rd. DD starts college that day so I thought we would start as well. Schoolroom painting and organizing to be started this weekend. Bought the paint today!!

We've decided to go with TT this year (switching from Saxon). How much time do you allow in your schedule for TT? It wil be a bit different for us as up until now I've taught the boys together and so only needed one time slot. Also, since they will both be using the same level, do I need two workbooks, or can I get away with sharing one? Thanks:)

Wow! I'm impressed! I have thought about Christmas gifts but that's about it. For the kiddos at home, we are thinking about a GPS for the almost 19yo college student and the 9yos are really into making "movies" with dh's camera right now, so something along those lines.

It's not just you, it's me too:) I could be called over protective, I guess. But, that's okay. I know where my kids are and who they are with and what they are doing. I consider that MY responsibility. I don't shirk it nor do I put it on others. I'm talking about my just turned 9yos at this point. But I have older kids (28, 26, 23 and 19 next month) who I've been down this road with too. The older three are grown and living on their own, one is serving in the Army in Alaska. My almost 19 yo dd has gone on three missions trips (without me;)) So obviously, I do let them go at some point. But for now, the little guys stick with me. I prefer it that way.

Just signed up too! My big kids love board games and the younger ones are just starting to get into them. This should be fun:)

I received my letter from the school district yesterday. The one that says they received my portfolios and objectives, etc. When I saw the letter in the mailbox I sort of braced myself. Each year they try to find something wrong or say something negative. But, lo and behold, not this year! It was a very positive, encouraging letter. What a nice surprise! I might frame and display this one:)

Oh my. I'm sure it wasn't all that funny at the time but it made me lol:) :grouphug: